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Melly clung onto Lucky Guy’s arm, offering him a sip from her Dovlin. Lucky politely waved a hand out to decline, and Melly only nodded in reply.
They’d been tightly against each other, Melly’s arms wrapped around Lucky’s chest as Lucky held her aloft. They barely occupied multiple seats, which earned small chuckles from Demi and her plus-two.
They were in the center, Demi serving drinks between them. William was placed to their far-left, Melly opposing his seat. William was, at-the very least, half-drunk . As-per Lucky Guy’s processing of it, Ganji was half-asleep on his lap, and William looked like he genuinely didn’t care.
Lucky had been drinking non-alcoholic drinks for most of tonight, knowing he’d have to guide Melly back to her dorm if she got drunk. She was only tipsy, though. Not drunk, only relaxed.
Someone decided it’d be a great idea for them to hold a mock dance, but Margie insisted on it being serious. It’d been fun so far, Lucky Guy and his plus-one had gone together as friends. Friends. Nothing more, only because neither had dates.
It didn’t stop him from being in a suit, however. Or dancing with Melly. She’d come dolled-up in a dress, her gauze fit to match her outfit.
Antonio had been playing slow-dance music on his violin, Joseph accompanying him for some on a grand piano. If Melly needed a dance partner, Lucky would be more than happy to waltz. I mean, who else gets to dance with their crush?
While Lucky Guy was pondering, he’d noticed Melly had scooted over and begun whispering to Demi, who had sidled into a bar-seat. He didn’t mind, he only watched its background.
Who knew Balsa could be a good dancer, hm. He impressed Valden, more than anything. Edgar kept staring into the distance, eyes solemnly directed to his waltz. While Balsa’s dancing was rather a spectacle, Edgar’s look of admiration was another. There was a tinge of love in his eyes, almost.
Melly and Demi made hushed conversation, laughing from Demi’s drunkenness and some of her quips. Demi giggled, a lopsided smile adorning her face as she leaned into Melly’s coat.
“ C’mon, Mel. It’d be fun … “ Demi cooed, a clearly unamused Melly above her. “ Your definition of fun is stretching it. ”
Demi’s plan included : Demi confesses to Jose and Kevin in front of everyone. Draws all the room’s attention to her. Since she’s drunk, neither will bat an eye. Trade deal happens, Melly confesses to Lucky Guy and nobody has to pay attention. Plus, they both get to confess, Demi knows she’s had it pent up for months now.
Melly wasn’t having it, because that’d be embarrassing as h-e — ck. In all fairness, if Lucky Guy declined, she could always blame it on Dovlin … you don’t get to do that one often.
Lucky Guy was nervously fiddling around with his hands in the corner, much to Melly’s relief. Most likely viewing how Luca was now dancing with Edgar, but didn’t seem to be paying any attention to Melly and Demi’s conversation.
Melly shook her head, glaring at Demi. Who had an expectant smile on her face. She’d noticed Melly thinking it over, and it was enough for her drunken mind to come to the conclusion that Melly agreed with her plan.
“ Maybe. ” Melly said, an undertone of disappointment in her voice. Demi’s eyes lit up. She slowly tried to scoot herself back up, instead accidentally ending up with her head resting on one seat and herself sitting on a completely different one. Melly lifted her back up, and Demi brushed off her shoulders as if it never happened.
“ ‘Kay. So, game plan. I scoot between these two lovebirds, and act really flirty for a while. Chalk it up to drunkenness. Then, randomly say “I love you,” drawing the attention of half the crowd who’s not staring at Luca right now. You scoot into the corner. Make an intro, I don’t care. Confess, quietly so the attention isn’t off me and Luca. So, nobody will bat an eye. Then, you can keep it a secret. ”
Melly nodded, her hands in her lap formally. “ If it backfires, ” Demi added, “ Say I dared you to. He has no idea what we’re doing, he might as well assume we’re playing truth or dare. ”
Melly side-clapped, a tell-tale sign from any ( female ) survivor she agreed. ( Males normally hand-signed. Melly never understood that one. )
Demi leaned over, making another futile attempt at scooting out of her seat. Melly, once again, shoved her up to her normal posture and she continued like it didn’t happen. She somehow appeared in between Kevin and Jose, who were somehow not drunk. Maybe Kevin was. He looked drunk, and Jose looked like he’d drunk about as much alcohol as Kevin but he had a high tolerance.
“ Hey~ ” She giggled, Jose chuckling. He was nearly in Kevin’s arms, and that was being watched adamantly by William. Who didn’t seem to be keeping tabs on the fact someone was basically asleep on top of him.
Demi was making small-talk with the duo, and Lucky Guy was still staring off into space. Antonio had somehow kept up his sonata, and Luca and Edgar had somehow kept up their dancing. Nobody could deny Edgar looked tired, but also way more in love than Edgar Valden’s eyes should really be able to portray. Victor and Andrew had kept up their gossiping in the corner, and William wasn’t blackout drunk, which automatically meant everything was going smoothly.
Melly remembered she really should be focusing on something else right now, and she turned over to slump back into Lucky Guy’s arms. Lucky Guy happily accepted her touch, pulling her up so they could be eye-to-eye. ( Melly was a bit shorter than Lucky Guy, she admitted. However, her mask made her look taller than your average female survivor, so she had that to turn to. )
The entomologist glanced back over to Demi, who had her arms around Jose and Kevin’s shoulders, and neither appeared to mind. Demi leaned over and winked at Melly, signaling she could probably do something by now, and none of Demi’s counterparts seemed to notice.
Melly was unaware if she could get more flirty than physically being stuffed into Lucky’s chest, but Demi seemed to think she could. Demi was still obviously drunk, and having a slurred-ish conversation with Kevin and Jose. Melly had been slowly leaning closer to Lucky, something he’d taken note of as one of his arms was around her back. It was comfortable, in a way.
Demi leaned into the table, which Jose blocked with his arms so she more leaned into those. “I love you guys…” She uttered, and Lucky Guy could almost feel William’s eyes light up while some randomly turned to stare. “I know.” Kevin flipped his hair, earning a slap from Jose. “Kevin, that is not how you respond to a confession.” “Aww, you’re no fun.”
Demi laughed, being taken into the first officer’s arms as he gave his boyfriend an angry glare.
While everyone’s eyes were on Demi, Melly shot her a glance and then looked back at Lucky Guy. “That reminds me.” She giggled, “I have a contract with her.” Lucky tilted his head, a confused look on his face. “Contract? What kind of contract?”
Melly didn’t skip a beat, leaning closer to him. “I promised I’d tell you something if she told them.” Lucky’s face shifted to a more worried-confused, as Melly started laughing out of pressure.
“I love you.” Melly then stuffed her face into Lucky’s chest out of embarrassment, but Lucky’s face lighting up flaming red was so worth it. Kevin nearly started roaring with laughter, but he was shut up by a kiss from Jose, Demi taking the opportunity to kiss his cheek as Jose kissed his lips. Kevin blushed, hard, making them both laugh in return.
Lucky Guy was redder than the cherry wine Demi had served, his arm shaking as it wrapped around Melly. If he was expecting anything to happen, it wasn’t this. He covered half his face with his hand, his arm was warm. Melly liked it, she was in a frilly dress and it was fairly cold in Oletus Manor’s ballroom.
Lucky Guy realized he needed to finish his spacing-out session, he looked back down to Melly. She was nervously hand-fiddling, patiently awaiting a response from Lucky Guy. Lucky Guy thought about it. He loved Melly, he absolutely had. Ever since he met her. But, was he willing to admit it? In front of all those people? She said something about a contract, what if she’s lying? What if it’s the alcohol talking? Lucky Guy began worrying.
But, observing Melly, she didn’t look as if she was lying. Additionally, she’d barely touched a drop besides a glass she had, so she wouldn’t be drunk. She wasn’t a liar, normally she only told white lies. So, this would’ve had no reason not to be serious.
Lucky decided to tell the truth, there wasn’t a reason for him not to. “I … I-I love you too …” Lucky once again covered his face with his hand, nearly bursting into tears out of embarrassment. Melly smiled, some of the warmest smiling Lucky Guy had ever witnessed.
He slowly leaned down, their faces inching closer, and closer, and closer … until, finally, Melly closed the distance between them and they pulled each other in for a kiss. They stayed there for a while, Lucky Guy slowly leaning into Melly’s touch. They pulled off of each other after sometime, Lucky breathing in heavily for air. Demi was snickering, Jose and Kevin staring as William tried to keep himself from shooting his mouth off. (The man in William’s lap was still asleep, somehow.)
Melly snuggled herself into Lucky Guy’s arms, finding it funny they’d confessed, and then made out right then and there. But, she supposed it was fitting. Demi was snorting trying to keep herself from laughing and drawing any attention to them, but Lucky Guy couldn’t be happier.
The air between them all was still, and silent besides Demi’s occasional laugh-snort, until a stern voice echoed through the bar area. “Good show, guys. Good show.” The manor's magician clapped, pouring himself some wine and strutting back to sit on a spare bench with Kurt and Kreacher about as fast as he'd entered.
Demi and Melly started laughing in unison. “There goes our plan of nobody seeing us.” Demi laughed. “You planned this?” Kevin asked, confused. “That’s why I confessed to y’all even though we’re already having a date… ~” Melly had gone bright red, clearly fuming. “You were already dating them?” Melly scoffed. “You told me you weren’t. So, you played a trick on me so I could confess to Lucky.” Demi flashed a thumbs-up, a crooked smile on her face. “W-we’re happy, at l-least. We shouldn’t care if she p-played a trick on us for it to happen.” Lucky suggested, earning a smile from Melly. “Maybe you’re right.”
After half-an-hour or so of small-talk between the tables, Melly decided to get up, dragging Lucky Guy with her. She bounced up-n’-down, a grin adorning her face as she excitedly pointed to Margie's dance floor. Lucky Guy took it as an invitation to dance, and he gracefully picked up Melly to escort her to the dancing area. Lucky was bridal carrying her, and that’d been making him nervous, but she seemed to be enjoying it as much as he was.
When they arrived at the dance floor, they’d found Servais already dancing, hand in hand with- Kurt? They were both in rather formal attire, Servais had a rose clenched between his lips. Freddy and Kreacher were adamantly cheering them on, when they noticed the duo. Kurt sneered, making a motion to challenge them. Servais sighed, but still happily accepted Kurt’s hand in his as Melly ran with Lucky onto the floor.
William jumped at the opportunity, the now-awake man lying in his arms looking around in confusion when he noticed his best-friend dancing with Lucky. He shrugged, deciding to join William on cheering them on as Freddy and his lover happily rooted for their acquaintances as Antonio noticed and sped up his sonata to match their fight. ( Melly suspected their audience wasn’t dependent on who won, considering William and Kreacher were happily sharing a beer. )
Antonio increased his music intensity periodically, keeping up as if they were in a serious competition as Joseph continued to accompany his songs, Lucky and Servais occasionally fighting each other in words. That one earned Melly and Kurt some awkward glances to each other, or their four-man audience.
Eventually, Kurt became exhausted, waving a hand to signal surrender. “I surrender, I surrender.” He unceremoniously fell into Servais’ arms, Servais laying some kisses on his forehead. As Servais had a rose hanging from his lips, it looked so awfully romantic Melly couldn’t help but chuckle. “You guys were dancing before, so you might’ve been tired.” Lucky responded, but Servais dismissed him. “It’s fine. Good show, though.” He laughed, still planting kisses on Kurt. They both looked to the audience, noticing Freddy and Kreacher clapping as the other duo had swapped places. Now William was the man half-blacked out and drunk in Ganji’s grip, as he struggled to keep him up. Kreacher found himself laughing at that as well.
“You’re drunk too, Kreacher. Stop laughing at William, you’re the one who drank with him.” Freddy snarled.
“C’mon~ Not my fault he cracked open a beer and asked me if I wanted to share~...”
“You accepted it, moron.”
“You act like this is my fault~...”
“It was.”
Freddy and Kreacher started arguing back and forth, Servais sighing loudly. “Do they ever stop arguing?” He questioned. Lucky shook his head. “I don’t think so.” Ganji still had William held tightly in his arms, trying to support himself under the insanely muscular man under him. He gave a couple ovations to their performance, still.
Melly was half-collapsed into Lucky’s arms, similarly draped in a dramatic pose comparable to how Kurt was lying on Servais. Lucky kneeled down, kissing her on the lips once more. Earning smiles from the musicians over on the stage. Lucky Guy and Melly locked eyes, Melly slowly lifting up her veil, she was absolutely beaming with pride and happiness. Lucky once again took her into his arms, her shifting her veil back down so Servais couldn’t catch any unnecessary glimpses of her eyes. As she did, Demi’s party of three walked back into the room, Demi still in a bridal-style dress. They noticed the duos sprawled out on the dance floor, and Kevin and Demi erupted in laughter. “Are we interrupting something?” Jose asked, Servais shaking his head. “The floor is yours.” He announced, moving Kurt out of the way as Lucky took the hint and moved offstage as well.
Jose, Kevin, and Demi all joined each other on the dance floor, Antonio starting his music once more. Three drunk lovers trying to dance together was kinda messy, kinda uncoordinated, but still wildly fun to watch. Lucky Guy had his arm around Melly as they sat on their bench section, Servais and Kurt snuggling on the other. Melly was slowly falling asleep, eyes fluttering closed but snapping open again. She looked back over to Lucky Guy, flashing a smile at him and continuing to nuzzle his arm.
Lucky doesn’t think he’s ever been happier.
━━━━━━━━
Talking of last night mainly filled survivor breakfast’s gossip. Oppositely, Antonio told hunter breakfast about all the gossip that’d happened over with the survivors.
Mainly, the chatter consisted of whatever the hell Servais and Kurt were doing, getting caught dancing as dramatically as a romance movie's school dancing scene. Servais was definitely quick to deny any accusations, but anyone could tell by grins Antonio kept flashing to the table they were obviously lies.
His face was still burning red, a tinge of pink splattered across his cheeks as he defended himself as to why he wasn’t in love with the explorer next to him. Even Kurt was subtly amused by it, eventually giving up and simply pulling Servais in for another, rather dramatic kiss. Servais let out a loud noise similar to a movie-villain being choked as Naib and Kreacher snickered.
Lucky only occasionally stared at the woman next to him, who’d decided to open her mask ever-so-slightly instead of bringing her food to her room like she normally would.
The man was sort of relieved, nobody had batted an eye when they walked into the dining hall hand-in-hand. He supposed, whatever Servais and Kurt were doing was far more interesting than what their duo was doing. Maybe that was for the better.
Lucky couldn’t stop smiling through breakfast however, thinking of how his love he’d had for months had finally been answered.